Dairy Free Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream

I usually make my ice cream with coconut milk because the high fat content helps make the ice cream creamy and smooth without the use of additives like xanthan gum. It tastes delicious but isn’t exactly kind to the waistline.

I wanted to try ice cream with almond milk, since almonds are full of great nutrients and also yield a much lower fat and calorie content. The result was a delectable treat but one that has a slightly more icy consistency than the higher fat ice creams. I added a couple of egg yolks help make it a little creamier and also more easy to scoop once frozen. You can leave them out if you’re a vegan, but you will come up with more of a sorbet consistency, than ice cream. You’ll still have the delicious minty flavor though from the fresh steeped mint leaves!

One serving of this ice cream has only 184 calories and 8g of fat! Over half the fat and calories of a serving of Baskin Robbins! And 3 times less than a coconut milk version of this same recipe!

For SCD and Paleo, leave out the chocolate and try folding in pistachios

Whisk together the almond milk, egg yolks, honey, and chopped mint leaves in a sauce pan. Warm over medium-high heat stirring constantly for 15 minutes, until the mixture coats the back of a spoon. Be careful not to let it boil.

Transfer mixture to a glass bowl, and let cool to room temperature for about 20 minutes. Cover with plastic wrap, making sure to press the plastic wrap directly on the liquid, so there is no condensation. If water gets into the mixture, it will make your ice cream more “icy” rather than creamy.

Place in the refrigerator and chill until cold, at least 2 hours.

Remove the batter from the refrigerator and add 1/2 teaspoon of peppermint extract or a mint liqueur. The alcohol will helps make the ice cream easier to scoop after freezing.

Comments

What are your impressions as to whether or not dairy free chocolate is considered SCD-legal? I know chocolate in general is considered illegal in “Breaking the Vicious Cycle”, but there is no explanation as to why… and I REALLY love chocolate… I am thinking dairy free super dark chocolate is probably ok as it is very low in refined sugars as well…

I think if you bought unsweetened, dairy free chocolate and sweetened it yourself with SCD sweeteners it would be ok every once in a while. I think it is illegal because of the ways that most of the chocolate is manufactured. Maybe try using raw cacao so that it hasn’t been processed. I don’t eat it often, and definitely not when I’m flaring, but you’ll have to decide based on how your body reacts.